LADY BUG...THERE ARE GREAT FATHER'S DAY GIFTS IN THE GARDEN CENTERS

There are great Father's Day gifts in garden centers. If your dad is the creative type, gardening may be the perfect way for him to release his energy and be creative.

If he does not have the basic tools of gardening, how about a new rake, shovel, spade, garden hose or a good sturdy trowel? If your dad would rather relax in a hammock and listen to the birds sing, how about a new bird bath, a sunflower feeder or a corn holder?

For an easy yet memorable family project, consider giving dad a shrub or a tree. There is no better way to mark your affection for him than planting a tree, and you will have the added benefit of making a lasting contribution to the landscape and environment. This will be lasting remembrance for Father's Day the whole family will remember.

GREEN ON POTATOES

How often have you noticed slightly greenish places under the skins of Irish potatoes? You may have heard that it is slightly sunburned, or that a little amount of the green will not hurt you. Recently there was an interesting article in the Gardeners of America' Newsletter.

It stated the greenish coloring that appears on the potato indicates the presence of a compound called solanine. In large doses, solanine is toxic and interferes with an enzyme essential for normal nerve functioning. Drowsiness and itching at the back of the neck are early warnings of an excessive amount of solanine. Greater amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea. These extreme cases appear rarely.

Solanine is insoluble in water and is not broken down in cooking. It does affect flavor and it is recommended that all greenish areas be trimmed from the potato before cooking.

Potatoes with the greenish coloring appear quite frequently in home gardens. This condition can be prevented in the garden during growing season. One method of prevention is to cover the base of the potato with a slight amount of soil during the growing period. Some call this process "hilling-up".

Some gardeners believe this greening condition appears more readily when one grows white skinned varieties as opposed to the red skinned ones. However, it can be caused by any potato that is exposed to the sun.

"STEWED" TOMATOES

Sister Mary fisher of Detroit, Mich., offered this bit to the newspaper: "When the fruits on tomato plants begin to appear, poke a circle of holes around the base of each planting using an old pencil, penetrating at least 6 inches into the ground. Fill all the holes with beer. Repeat at two-week intervals for large, juicy, delicious tomatoes.

SLUGGING IT OUT

Gardeners often watch as slugs invade the garden to consume tender annuals or vegetables overnight. They are especially fond of pansies, snapdragons, begonias, geraniums, impatiens, turnips, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.

They do, however, dislike a few things. According to "But, Slugs, and Other Thugs" by Rhonda Massingham Hart, slugs dislike azaleas, basil, beans, corn, chard, daffodils and hibiscus.

"To the best of my knowledge, slugs do not eat roses," said a spokesman for the American Rose Society in Shreveport, La.

For years we have used the beer trick, which consists of a small container (such as a little aluminum pie container) filled with beer. This will attract them and the pests will literally drink themselves to death, or crawl into it and drown.

I am now trying a new trick which recently appeared in a current periodical. Place rinds of halved grapefruits in a garden area, upside down like an overturned bowl. Slugs will be drawn to them in mornings as shelter from the sun.

Have also heard slugs can be repelled by putting irritating surfaces such as, crushed eggshells, gravel or sharp sand around plants. If you see one of these silvery, slimy enemies--quickly get the salt shaker and cover his slimy body. Have heard that vinegar, or a hot pepper solution works well, also. Good luck!

HOW POLE BEANS GOT THEIR NAME

Pole or runner beans need support so vines can climb rather than sprawl all over the garden. In rural areas gardener still have access to poles made from sapling or straight sprouts from bushy shrubs. These can be reused for years if raised off the ground when dried vines are removed and they can be stacked for winter.

Farmer John has used the frame of a child's swing set with heavy twine for the beans to climb upon. Any type of support is not unsightly because the vines will soon cover for most of the season.

Per square foot of garden, pole varieties of beans will yield more beans than bush types and over a longer season. They require two or three weeks longer to mature, so bush varieties should be planted as well for early production.

"Old timers" insist that pole beans have the best flavor of any beans.